PROJECT NO. 110-51, 'ECONOMIC CAPABILITIES OF THE SOVIET BLOC TO SUPPORT A GENERAL WAR'. STEEL CONSUMPTION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00662R000100190033-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 28, 1998
• Sequence Number: 33
• Publication Date: December 11, 1951
• Content Type: MEMO

S ANDARD FORM e4
Npproved For Release 2000/0
75-00662R0001 00190033-8
Office Memorandum ? UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
25X1 A9a S CURITY INFORMATITI,
TO Acting Chief i C
THRU Chief, Materials Division
FROM Acting Chief, Ferrous Metals branch
DATE: 11 December 1951
SUBJECT: Project No. 110-51. "Economic Capabilities of the Soviet Bloc to
Support a General War." Steel Consumption.
25X1A9a
During the recent meeting which you and held with
Ferrous Metals Branch, the question arose as o.w a er steel would
best be reported in terms of rolled products or raw steel. The
writer has discussed this matter with (Chief, i)/'I) 25X1A9a
and we have arrived at the conclusion that the best unit would be
in terms of raw steel.
We based our conclusion mainly on the fact that an appreciable amount
of steel consumed is not from the finished rolled product stage, but
consists of forgings which are made from semi-finished material, namely
blooms and billets and in the case of some heavy forgings directly
from the ingot stage. Rather than to convert such items into terms
of rolled products, it is more accurate to convert everything back
to raw steel.
In order to be consistent all analysts including the military
estimating steel consumption should use the same conversion factors.
The following factors are fairly representative of USSR industry:
Product Average % Yield From
Ingot to Product
1. Blooms, billets, slabs (except shell steel) 85.
2. Billets (shell steel) 70.
3. Rails 75.
4. Pipes and tubes 68.
5. Plates (rolled armor) 55.
6. Rolled bars for shell steel 68.
7. Forgings (before machining)
a) Armor plate 55,
b) Others(press, open hammer, drop and upset) 57.
8. Wheels and axles 60.
9. All other finished rolled steel 72.
10. Fabricated products (end items)-will vary with the product and can
be determined best by the analyst in charge.
25X1A9a
Approved For Release 2000/
D P75-00662 R000100190033-8